Portland’s local Fox-affiliated television station, KPTV channel 12 signed on the air Saturday September 20, 1952 on channel 27, as Oregon’s first television station, as well as the world’s first commercial TV station on the UHF band. The station was originally owned by Empire Coil and since it was the only TV station at the time, it carried all four networks: ABC, CBS, NBC, and the now-defunct DuMont Television Network. KPTV founder Herbert Mayer (above) delivered an inaugural address from Portland’s Benson Hotel.